This 631.7-mile journey from Venus, Texas, to El Paso, Texas, will take approximately 10 hours and 34 minutes of driving time. Given its length and duration, this is best tackled as a two-day trip, allowing for a more relaxed pace. You'll primarily be on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway and I-10, with a portion on I-35W, covering about 30% of the route on highways. Expect a fuel cost around $95 for this long-distance drive across the Great Plains. With three planned stops, you can break up the drive effectively.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
3 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
315.9 miles from Venus, TX
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
437.1 mi
7h 17m
I 10
166.7 mi
2h 43m
I 35W
17.4 mi
18m
West US Highway 67
7.3 mi
8m
South Interstate 35W
0.6 mi
1m
East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
North Mesa Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Parkway Drive
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
— 437.1 mi, about 7h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Venus, TX and El Paso, TX.
1
Start on this road
163 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto FM 157
0.1 mi·12 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on FM 157
424 ft·10 sec·North FM 157
4
Turn left onto US 67
7.3 mi·8 min·West US Highway 67
5
Turn right onto I 35 Bus
0.3 mi·26 sec·North Parkway Drive
6
Continue on I 35 Bus
0.1 mi·13 sec·South Interstate 35W
7
Turn right onto South Interstate 35W
0.5 mi·54 sec·South Interstate 35W
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 27Toward County Road 707, County Road 604
9
Merge onto I 35W
17 mi·18 min·I 35W
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 45AToward I 20 West: AbileneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 20 West: AbileneUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 20
4.3 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
4.0 mi·4 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 WestUse the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20
429 mi·7 hr 8 min·Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Toward I 20 West: AbileneUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 10
167 mi·2 hr 43 min·I 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 19BToward Missouri Avenue, DowntownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto East Missouri Avenue
0.3 mi·49 sec·East Missouri Avenue
18
Turn left onto TX 20
0.3 mi·27 sec·North Mesa Street
19
Arrive at destination
North Mesa Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 631.7-mile drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight hours, especially since it's recommended as a two-day trip. With a total duration of over 10 hours, splitting the drive is key; aim to complete roughly half the distance on day one. Plan for your three stops strategically to include fuel and rest breaks, keeping the estimated $95 fuel cost in mind. A specific tip for this route: be sure to check your tire pressure before departing, as the long distances and potential for varying road conditions across Texas can impact wear.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 3 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 315.9 miles from Venus, TX, or about 5h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 437.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 139 miles or 2h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 315.9 miles or 5h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 315.9 miles or 5h 21m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 9h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near El Paso, TX than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Venus, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Venus, TX
Aim for roughly 316 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into El Paso, TX
Aim for roughly 316 miles and 5.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 139 miles from Venus, TX.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 3 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway for about 437.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 26 and 630.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward I 20 West: Abilene
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45A
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
7
27 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
7
31.5 mi into trip|~36m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 20 West
7
35.5 mi into trip|~41m in|I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway toward I 20 West: Abilene
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 20 West: Abilene
8
630.9 mi into trip|~10h 33m in
Take the exit toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19B
Toward Missouri Avenue, Downtown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$95.45 one way
$190.90 round trip
$3.84/gal25.4 MPG avg221 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.20
$104.48
$208.96
premium
$4.54
$112.79
$225.57
diesel
$5.61
$139.47
$278.94
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$95
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$225–$335
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 221 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $66 in charging
· 2 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
189.5
2
$66.33
$30.32
Efficient EV
157.9
1
$55.27
$25.27
EV Truck/SUV
252.7
3
$88.44
$40.43
Gas CO2
221 kg
EV CO2
74 kg (67% less)
Plan for 2 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Venus, TX
Late night
in Venus on Tuesday
Local time
5:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
El Paso, TX
Late night
in El Paso on Tuesday
Local time
4:56 AM
MDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Clear
NNE 8 mph0% chanceLive forecast
86°F
Sweetwater, TX
208 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour earlier
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
28 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
10h 34m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Chamizal National Memorial
National Memorial
Chamizal is more than just an urban park to recreate or enjoy a quiet afternoon. These grounds are a reminder of the harmonious settlement of a 100-year boundary dispute between the United States and...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 631.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by long stretches on major arteries, with 30% of the route being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 437.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. While much of the route follows major interstates, expect the landscape to shift as you traverse the vast expanse of Texas. The personality of the road is predominantly that of a long-distance interstate cruise.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 437.1 mi on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
At 10h 34m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 631.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
El Paso is the sixth largest city in Texas, with 679,000 residents (2020). It is on the United States-Mexico border. The city on the other side of the border is Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. El Paso is often called the Sun City. Collectively, the city of El Paso and other nearby cities, such as Juarez and Las Cruces, New Mexico are referred to as The Borderland.
Top landmarks
•El Paso Museum of Art — art museum in El Paso, Texas
•Union Depot — historic place in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
•Plaza Theatre — building in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
Long-haul drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 437.1 miles on Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 316 miles on day one.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at El Paso, TX before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 3 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.5 miles (I 20 / Ronald Reagan Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Chamizal National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 10.6 hours each way, a round trip means 21.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at El Paso, TX before the return drive.
